Presser plate latch for selfwringing mops



March 2, 1954 p R 2,670,487

PRESSER PLATE LATCH FOR SELF-WRINGING MOPS Filed Nov. 8, 1950 I BY EN TOR: M XW ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 2, 1954 PRESSER PLATE LATCH FOR SELF- WRINGING MOPS Philip K. "OConnor, Chicago, Ill., assignor to O-Oedar Corpn, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois APplicatianNovember s, 1950, Serial No. 194,665

1 My invention relates to a latch for wringing plates of self-wringing mops. More particularly my invention relates to a fa's'tener'forlocking a presser plate of self-wringing mops in a raised position. My invention has particular utility in connection with a mop having a presser plate hingedly connected to'asponge-equippe'd mophead plate, wherein the'presser plate isused for wringing the sponge by rotating it downwardly from a normally raised position;

Self-wringing mops having a mop body composed of an absorbent'sponge are in'widespread use. Many of these mops have a plate hingedly connected to the front or rear edge of an elongated mop-head plate so'ithat this plate can be folded downwardly 'and around the sponge to wring it. In these mops thewringin'g plate is generally equipped with a handle or other'me'ans for applying pressure to the plate, and this handle is generally adapted'to lieadjacent'tothe mop handle when the wringing plate is in its normally elevated position. A mop of this type, which has achieved commercial importance "because of its rear wringing feature, is illustratediin U. 8. Patent No. 2,515,403 issued to N. B. Gre'nl'af 'et' all Considerable difiiculty has been experienced in providing a suitable latching means for securing the presser plates of self-wringing "mops in a raised or other position in whichthe presser plate will not interfere with the mopping operation. Where, as in the Greenleaf't'ype of'mop, a wring ing lever projects upwardly from the presserplate, this lever has been fastened to the mop handle by means of a notched clip arm secured to the handle and engaging a recess in the squeezing lever. This type of fastener has proved unsatisfactory because it must be composed of a high grade of' spring steel and must be formed and positioned to very close tolerances. Moreover, it has been found that this type of fastener does'not'stand up well with continued use, and sometimes breaks off. Therefore, a new type of latching {device has been diligently sought, especially for use .in conjunction with the 'Greenleaf typeof mop.

It is therefore an object of my invention to devise a-means forlatching the wringing plate of self-wringing mops which is-simple and economical in construction. ;More specifically it is an object of my invention to devise a fastener for mop presser plateswhich'can be formed from an inexpensive type of steel, and which does not have to be formedtoprecise dimensions or ex-r actly positioned. It is a further objectfo'f my invention to devise a lateh to be usedin coniu ct w th th resnlee rtrnaq' f Qe'W-hi 6 Claims. (01. 15-119) will achieve a simple and cooperative relationship therewith. It is a still further object of my invention to devise a presser plate latch which will hold the presser plate in an upright position without allowing the presser plate or squeezing lever attached thereto toclatter against the mop handle.

I have discovered that the above objects can be substantially accomplished by providing a tongue or flange projecting from the mop-head plate and having an upwardly inclined or arcuate end portion attached to frictionally engage the hinged edge of the wringing or presser plate and thereby latch the wringing plate. I have further discovered that my new fastening means uniquely cooperates with the parts of a mop of the Greenleaf type in which the presser plate is hinged at the rear edge and there is a spring secured centrally around the hinge pin and between the integrally formedhinge barrels. I have further discovered that when the presser plate is provided with an upwardly extending squeezing lever that it is desirable to secure this lever in an upright position but at a small distance from the mop handle to prevent clattering of the lever against the handle. And I have also discovered that my new latch may be readily adapted to accomplish this result.

My invention is illustrated in a specific em-' bodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mop of the Greenleaf type having a presser plate hingedly connected to the rear edge and equipped with my new latch; Fig. 2, a fragmentary perspective view of the mop of Fig. l with the presser plate in wringing position and showing my latching device disengaged; Fig. 3, an enlarged side sectional view takenin elevation through the center of the mop in Fig. 1 and showing the details of my new latch ;v Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the latch shown in Fig. 3 and shown schematically in a partially engaged position but with the'spring removed; Fig. 5, an enlarged perspective view of the mop sponge equipped with fastening means; Fig. 6, a detail view of my latch showing modifications in the tongue and presser'plate edge; and Fig. 7, an enlarged perspective view of a central portion of the mop-head plate showing another modification of the tongue of my latch.

Figure 1' shows a self-wringing mo of the Greenleaf type in conjunction with which I prefer to use my new latch, and with which my latching device has 'a special cooperation and utility.

it will be understood, however, that my latching V either closer to or awayfro'r'n handldl. Presser plate I3 is prevented fro m rotating'downward ly because of its engagement with curved portion l8, and is prevented from moving toward handle I by the downward and forward inclination of flat portion 26.

Substantially this same'result of locking plate l3 and lever lti'a'djacent to but away from handle I can be accomplished by the modification shown in Figure 6, which has been previously described, or by prqviding an] S- ne' t n ue projection. The particular advantage, however, of providing a flat inclined tongue portionbeneath the arcuate tongue portion is that it is unnecessary, to form the related flat and arcuate tongue portions to precise tolerances' Thisfis true because the positive lockingof plateflscan occur over a range of positionsfso long as plate I3 is held substantially upright and away from handle I. In using a more exact engagement, as shown in Figure 6, it is necessary to form the parts more precisely.

It will be apparent that my latching means can equally well be used to secure lever arm IE.

or presser plate l3 against handle I and socket 2 if this position is desired. I prefer, however, to secure lever l6 away from handle I and socket 2, since when these parts are touching it is very difficult to avoid some rattling of the adjacent metal surfaces.

In the illustration given, I provide spring 21 about hinge pin [5 of tongue l1. Spring 21 has arm extensions 28 on the ends thereof, which engage respectively the under surfaces of presser plate l3 and mop-head plate 4. Spring 21 is so formed that rotating plate l3 downwardly tightens spring 21. Thus, spring 21 is made to assist in returning plate I3 to its latched or upright position.

From the preceding description, it can be seen that my new latching device, in addition to its other advantages, provides a uniquely cooperative relationship with a mop of the structure illustrated in the drawing. Tongue I1 is readily formed from the same piece of metal as backing plate 4, and in reality is but a differently formed hinge barrel. Also, the engaged edge of presser plate I3 is readily adapted to form a latch with tongue H, such as by slotting or rolling. Still further, the exposed portion of hinge pin below arcuate tongue portion (8 provides an excellent location for spring 21.

While in the foregoing specification I have described in detail a specific embodiment of my latching device for purpose of illustration, it will be understood that numerous modifications can be made and will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a mop having an upwardly projecting handle secured to a mop-head including an elongated plate means having a presser plate means connected by an integrally formed hinge providing barrels to a longitudinal edge of the presser plate means, a resilient tongue projecting from said elongated plate means toward said presser plate means and being centrally located with respect to both said plate means, said tongue terminating in a raised end portion with a downward concavity extending between the barrels of said hinge to frictionally engage a rolled edge of said presser plate means to latch said presser plate means in an upright position and aligned with said handle, the rolled edge of said presser plate means riding over the raised end portion'of said tongue :to a positive locking position on'said tongue inwardly of said downward concavity. Y i

2. Incornbina'tion with a mop-head including an elongated mop-head'plate having aipr'esser plate; with a central rolled edge portion connected by a hinge to a rear edge'of themop-head plate, said hinge formed from alternatinginterloc king ba'rrels integrally formed'with said mophead plate and said presser plateand having a centrally located spring poised against i said hinged plates adjacent to said rolled edgeso 'as to urge the presserplate to an'upward position, a resilient tongue projecting from'said mopheadplate toward said presser plate and terminating inan upwardlyinclined end portionh'aving a downward curvature; said end "portion extending between the barrels of said hinge to frictionally engage the rolled edge of said presser plate to latch said presser plate, the rolled edge of said presser plate riding over the downwardly curved end portion of said tongue to inward position thereon by flexing said tongue downwardly.

3. In combination with a mop-head including a sponge-equipped plate means and a plate hingedly connected thereto for wringing said sponge, a resilient tongue projecting from said plate means toward the hinged edge of said wringing plate and having a raised end portion with a downward concavity and provided with a retaining recess below the concave portion adapted to provide a positive locking zone for an edge of said wringing plate, a portion of the hinged edge of said wringing plate riding over the raised end portion of said tongue to a position within said retaining recess by flexing said tongue downwardly, whereby said wringing plate can be held in an upright position.

4. In combination with a mop having an upwardly projecting handle secured to a mop-head including an elongated mop-head plate having a presser plate with a central lower rolled edge portion hingedly connected to a longitudinal edge of the mop-head plate, a. resilient tongue projecting from said mop-head plate toward said presser plate and extending between hinge barrels provided by said longitudinal edge, said tongue terminating in a raised portion with a downward curvature connected by an upwardly inclined flat portion to a generally horizontal portion of said tongue to provide a positive lock for holding said presser plate in an upright position away from said handle a portion of the hinged edge of said presser plate riding over the downwardly curved portion of said tongue to a position on said upwardly inclined flat portion by flexing said tongue downwardly.

5. In combination with a mop having an upwardly projecting handle secured to a mop-head including an elongated mop-head plate having a presser plate hingedly connected along a longitudinal edge to a longitudinal edge of said mophead plate, a resilient tongue projecting from said mop-head plate toward said presser plate and extending between hinge barrels provided by the longitudinal edge of said mop-head plate, said tongue terminating in a raised portion with a downward curvature and having a rounded projection near the point where said concave portion connects to a generally horizontal portion of said tongue, whereby there is provided a positive lock for holding said presser plate in an upright position away from said handle, a portion of the hinged edge of said presser plate ridin aver an: downwardly QQFVGQ m m a a? said ton ue gm! over said named majectism to a position inwa slly oi aid mumifid 9 3 58 tion by the downward flexing '9? m9 1591mm.

6. In c mbination with a mml. d. iml di an e n cd plat mam u1nn.., mth mmsc and having a pressm nla-t hin dly snnneeteg! alon a l n itudinal esl e m a lqmslm inal ed e of said spon e=equipncd mm g rasificm tgngue projectin mm @411 pleas mum um; hinged ed e of said pr x mm mm: a raised end portion Mm a domwam qmgvity adapted to frictienally en as mztian Q! th hinged edgf; of said prgsser plate the tri tiopan en aged parting of ms; np ssr p at? hin fid ed e rigin eve; the missed 1111 partisan 9 $2491 tongue by flgxin salq ton ue away 20m 'sais n esser p a e, wh reby .said nr asex mm can h Bs qsmm C ted n t e 1. of 9 11s a2 UNITED STATES PATENTS:

mmb ir" Nam D 19 $00,161 Moore Mar; 8,' 1898 n .".ZT M-"--.-. 1924 2. 42 8 Ba s t. 3 2476,9923 Kqrner 5t ;1. Oct. 24, 1939 2499,1457 Bates A r. 30, 1940 15 22 ;;45 ReYw J 1; .2 28 5 B'qlg e ,-'--'----V----; i 2 195.1 2,577,456 pomp Dec. 4, 1951 

